Grid plate casting machine



April 3, 1951 A. D. LUND GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1'7, 1947 April 3, 1951 A. D. LUND GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

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April 3, 1951 A. D. LUND GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 17, 1947 INVENTOR.

HRTHI/R D. Ll/ND H770 IVE Y5 April 3, 1951 A. D. LUND 'GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 17, 1947 INVENTOR. flRrm/fi 0.L1//V0 BY ww zk April 3, 1951 A. D. LUND GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 17, 1947 INVENTOR.

flRTHI/R 0. LUND flTTOR/VEYS April 3, 1951 A. D. LUND GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 17, 1947 INVENTOR.

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GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. fa 15 17/?77/1/1? Z7. LUND HTTOR/VEYG Patented Apr. 3, 1951 GRID PLATE CASTING MACHINE Arthur D. Lund, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Solar Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application May 17, 1947, Serial No. 748,679

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for casting storage battery grid plates and the primary object is to provide a machine which is comparatively simple but highly efficient in operation and adapted to produce cast battery plates at a high rate of speed and in accordance with modern production methods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature embodying stationary and movable molds adapted to be brought together during the casting operation and having matrix surfaces into which the molten metal may be poured while the molds are together and then allowed to cool. The movable mo'ds are carried by reciprocating mechanism which moves them toward and away from the stationary molds so that as the plates are cast and cooled, they may be removed automatically as the molds separate. In accordance with my invention the movable molds ordinarily travel through a comparatively short working stroke toward and away from the stationary molds but I further provide mechanism under manual control which enables me to draw the movable molds through a wide opening stroke to positions widely separated from the stationary molds. When the molds are so separated convenient access to their faces may be had and they may be smoked or otherwise treated as is necessary in the operation of the machine, as will later become apparent herein.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an improved mounting arrangement for the movable molds which embodies platens or mounting plates whereon the molds themselves are fastened and from which the mods may be removed at any time. The platens, in turn, are yieldably supported on the reciprocating mechanism in such manner as to enable the molds to properly register with the stationary molds as they come together and it will thus be seen that the movable molds may be taken off for replacement or other work. without in any way disturbing these yieldable mountings and the adjustments thereof.

The above and other important objects of my invention and advantages thereof will be made apparent in the course of the following specification wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side View of a machine embodying my invention showing the molds in the closed position and with intermediate parts of the delivery system for the cast plates broken away.

Fig. 1A is an enlarged detail sectional view of the connections between the movable mold and its supporting platen.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1 and again with the certain parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through the machine taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3A is an elevation of one of the grid plates as cast by my machine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of the actuating and timing cams and taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the machine with parts of the delivery mechanism shown in vertical section along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section along the line 6-6 in Fig. 3 and here again showing the molds in their closed positions by showing also in dotted lines the positions assumed by certain of the parts when the movable molds are drawn back to the fullest extent for smoking or other treatment.

Fig. 6A is a fragmentary detail section and plan view of the ram stop and taken along the lines 6A-6A in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail end elevation of the actuating and regulating mechanism for the metal feed as viewed substantially along the lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 8-8 in Fig. 9.

Figs. 9A, 9B and 9C are fragmentary side elevational views partially in section and illustrating progressional certain operations ofthe metal feed mechanism.

Fig. 9 is taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 7 while Figs. 9A, 9B and 9C are taken substantially along the line 9A-9A in Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentarydetafl sectional view of the upper part of one stationary mold and adjacent edge of the melting pot and showing also the ladle and illustrating the dumping operation thereof.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical and longitudinal sectional View through a part of the actuating means for the ram control valve and illustrating the manual override latch and operating handle therefor.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side view partially in section of the movable and stationary molds detailed from other parts of the machine. This view is taken substantially along the line IZ-IZ in Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is a face elevational view of the movable 3 mold but showing the cooling manifold partially in section.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section along the line l4-l4 in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a detailed sectional view along the line l-l5 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detailed section along the line l6l6 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detailed section taken along the line indicated at H in Fig. 13.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, my improved machine comprises a main or base frame, designated generally at A (and the construction of which will later appear), adjacent one end of which is a melting pot B for containing the molten metal such as lead. For convenience, this end of the machine will be hereinafter referred to as the forward end. The stationary and movable molds C and D are positioned in casting position adjacent the pot B and it will be noted that there are two of both molds so that the machine each operation casts two complete grid plates.

The frame A has side castings 20 supported upon base sills or channels 2| and the upper edges of the side castings support longitudinal slides or rails 22 wherein is slidably mounted the lateral edges of a ram support plate or carriage 23. The carriage is thus supported for back and forth movements with respect to the stationary molds and for so operating the carriage I provide a main hydraulic ram or fluid motor 2'3 comprising a cylinder 25 secured by bolts 25 to bars 21 joining cross members 28 which extend between the side castings 20. The ram further includes a rearwardly extending, fluid actuated plunger 29 which is secured by a nut 35 to a depending cross flange 3! upon the rear end of the carriage 28. Fluid under pressure from a supply source (not shown) is supplied to the ram cylinder 25 through pipes indicated at 32, under control of a conventional piston-type control valve 33 having a handle 34, the arrangement being such that when the handle is moved in opposite directions from the neutral position (Fig. 1) the ram plunger 29 will be moved in opposite directions by the fluid. Thus the carriage 23 may be moved lengthwise along the frame A and held in any desired position as will be understood. The valve 33 is secured by bolts 35 upon a removably mounted valve supporting or mounting plate 36 on an upper rear corner of the machine, convenient for operation by an operator stationed alongside the machine.

Atop the carriage there are mounted in parallelism two reciprocatable mold actuating mechanisms or rams, designated generally at 31 and 38, respectively, and each comprises a base 39, the margins of which are beveled off and engaged by parallel slides or rails 40 secured by bolts 4! to the carriage. These rams 37 and 38 are thus supported for reciprocating movements in the same direction as, and independently of or with the carriage 23. The forward ends of the bases 39 have upwardly and then forwardly extending head portions 42 forming transversely extending openings 43 for a purpose later to appear, and the bases further have upstanding side webs 44 which at forward ends have outwardly or laterally turned mounting flanges 45. Secured by nuts 46 to the upwardly turned portions 42 are the forward ends of plungers 41 extend ing from hydraulic ram units or fluid motors 48 each of which has a cylinder 49 secured at i rear end at 50 to an upstanding, transversely extending and rigidly braced web 51 upon the carriage 23. Front and rear ends of the cylinders 49 are respectively connected by cross manifolds or pipes 52 and 53 to the centers of which are in turn respectively connected flexible fluid supply lines 54 and 55 which are looped upwardly and extend to a control valve 56 secured at 51 upon the aforesaid valve mounting plate 3%. This control valve 56 is also of the piston type and has a plunger 58 which is selectively actuatable by hand or by an automatic timing mechanism which will now be described. It will be understood, of course, that the rams 31 and 38 may be reciprocated simultaneously upon the carriage 23 by the alternate admission of fluid to opposite ends of the cylinders d9 through the supply lines 54 and 55 and connecting pipes 52 and 53.

Said automatic timing mechanism comprises a motor 59 which is mounted upon a base 60 carried on a slide 6| upon a bracket 52 secured at a lower forward corner of the frame A. A conventional variable speed pulley 63 is mounted on one end of the motor shaft and on the other end is a conventional magnetic brake 64. A transmission housing 65 and a conventional speed reducer unit 66 are mounted on a bracket 57 on the frame A and the drive pulley 68 for the unit 66 is connected by a belt 69 to the pulley 63 on the motor. A traversing screw is provided for the slide 6i and has a hand wheel 10 by which the position of the motor may be adjusted in a well known manner to regulate the effective diameter of the pulley 53 and make corresponding adjustments of the speed with which the unit 65 is driven by the motor. The output shaft of the speed reducer unit 56 is connected by a coupling H to a drive or cam shaft 12 journaled in the transmission housing 65 and, as seen. in Fig. 4, there are two cams '13 and 14 mounted on this shaft within said housing. The cam 14 is fixed by its hub 15 on the shaft 12 while cam 13 is loose on the shaft and has arcuate slots 16 in which are positioned bolts 1'! carried by cam 14. This arrangement causes the two cams to travel as a unit with the shaft I2 but allows the angular relationship of the cams to berelatively adjusted as will be apparent.

Also journaled in the housing 65 is a short rock. shaft is whereon is secured a lever 79 having a roller 88 which rides the periphery of the cam '53. Exteriorly of the housing the rock shaft r 18 has secured thereto a lever BI and engaged with this lever (Fig. l) is a retractile coil spring 82 which maintains the roller 89 in contact with the cam. A link 83 connects the lever 8| to an arm 84 which at its lower end is secured to a shaft 85 journaled transversely in and through the sides of the frame A. The upper end of arm 84 is forked and pivoted at 85 to a link rod 81 which extends forwardly alongside the frame and the forward end of the link rod is pivotally attached at 88 to an operating mechanism designated generally at 89, for the valve 56. Referring particularly to Fig. 11 it Will be seen that the mechanism 89 comprises a stub shaft secured to the forward end of the valve mounting plate 36, forwardly of the valve 55, and oscillatably mounted on this shaft is an arm 9i to which the link rod is connected. Attached to the arm 9! .1

75 95 which are loosely mounted on the shaft 98 straddling the arms 9| and segment 92, and it is to this handle that the valve plunger 58 is attached, as designated at 96. A latch 91 is fulcrumed at 98 between the handle sides 95 and at one end has a. hook 99 which normally engages the notch 93. The opposite end of the latch is connected at I to the lower end of a thumbpiece rod IOI projecting upwardly through the handle and a spring 502 is positioned to urge the hook 99 into the notch. Thus normally the handle establishes a connection between the link rod 8'! and the plunger 53 such that the endwise movements of the former, caused by the obvious operation of the cam I3, will be translated to similar but opposite movements of the plunger to actuate the valve 56 and so control the rams 31 and 38. On the other hand, by depressing the thumb-piece I III the latch 91 will disengage the segment 92 and the handle 94 may be moved by hand to actuate the valve, independently of the automatic, timed and cam controlled movements of the link rod 81. The large end notch I93 in the segment 92 provides clearance for the connection 99 when the automatic control is released and this manual override used, as will be evident.

The molds D and C are similar in that they have mating matrix surfaces (see Fig. l3), which are so shaped and formed that when molten materlal is poured between the molds it will take on the shape of the desired batter plate. Since the exact formation of these matrix surfaces is not a part of the present invention it will not be described in detail herein, it being sufficient merely to note that the molds have upwardly opening mouths extending almost the full width of the matrices to receive and guide the molten metal down thereinto. The molds further have manifolds, designated generally at I04, through which a cooling fluid may be circulated to cool the plates as they are cast.

The stationary molds C are mounted side by side upon an end casting I95 which forms a rigid forward and upper part of the frame A and to so mount the molds they are provided at their lateral edges with notches I06 into which project the edges of large washers I91 placed on studs I08 which project rearwardly from the casting I05. By drawing up nuts I09 on the studs the molds may be readily clamped to the casting and it will be evident that the nuts are exposed for removal whenever necessary to change the molds, without the operator coming into contact with the hot melting pot B. The molds 0 further rest at lower edges upon set screws I I0 (Fig. 6) projecting upwardly from toes III on the casting I and by adjustin the screws the molds may be leveled and registered properly with the movable molds.

The movable molds D are fastened to cushioning and support platens I'I2 which in turn are supported on the heads of the rams 31 and 38. The platens II2 have studs I I3 secured to their rear faces at spaced points and, .as best seen in Fig. 1A, these studs are locked by nuts H4 and extend loosely back through apertured cups or sockets II5 formed integrally on the flanges 45 of the rams. Expansion coil springs II 6 are placed in the sockets I'I5' around the studs II 3 and urge the platens forwardly with respect to the rams, this movement being limited, and the spring tension adjusted by stop nuts I I! on the rear ends of the studs, which nuts are locked by lock nuts H8. The platens II2 are further supported upon forwardly turned feet H9 on the rams 31 and 38 and the platens and these feet have wear plates I20 .and I2I secured respectively thereto, permittin slight forward and rearward movements of the platens with respect to the rams, as will be understood.

The molds D are then merely secured to the platens M2 by cap screws I22 at appropriate points and it will be evident that the molds may be removed from the machine at any time without disturbingthe adjustments of the cushion ing springs I I 6 which, once adjusted to bring the molds D up against the molds C with even pressure at all points, will need no further adjustment.

The molds C and D so operate that as the movable molds draw away from the stationary molds: they carry alongthe completed plates and I accordingly provide means to knock or push these plates loose from the movable molds so that the plates will drop clear for transfer away from the machine by a conveyor mechanism which will; be later described. For disengaging the cast plates from the movable molds D at the proper time a series of knock-out pins II! are provided at strategic points about the face of the molds and as best shown in Fig. 15, these pins are slidably positioned in openings I I8 through the molds and project rearwardly therefrom into spring housings or cages I I9 secured at I29 to the molds. Within the housings H9 there are provided expansion coil springs l2l which bear rearwardly upon stop collars I22 on the pins and urge them rearwardly so that the forward ends normally stand flush with the matrix surfaces of the molds. The knock-out pins, however, project rearwardly through. plugs I23 on the housings I I9 and forcontact with these rearwardly projecting ends of the pins I provide a series of adjustable abut-- ments or stops indicated at I24. These abutments I24 are screwed into cross-bars I25 which are secured at I26 to brackets I21 mounted upon the slide rails adjacent the forward ends thereof. The brackets are bolted at I2Ia to the said rails and the bars I25 are fitted through the openings 43 at the forward ends of the rains 3'! and 38. It is for the purpose primarily of providing clearance for these cross-bars I25 that these openings 43 are formed in the rams and it will be readily understood that by proper adjustments of the abutments I24, they may be arranged to contact the rearward ends of the knock-out pins II I when the rams have drawn the movable: molds D away from the stationary molds C through a predetermined distance. In practice, these adjustments will be made so that just prior to the time when the plungers 4! reach the limit of their rearward travel in the cylinders 49 the knock-out pins I I1 will be engaged and thrust forward a short distance necessary to force the cast plates from the molds. It may here be noted that the plungers 4! come to rest against stops at both the rearward and forward limits of their travel and the aforesaid cushioning springs H6 permit the necessary slight rearward movement of the movable molds D' as they come up against the stationary molds C at the end of each forward strokeof the plungers.

The molten metal from the melting pot B is poured in a predetermined quantity between the molds each time they come together and for this purpose I provide ladles, indicated generally at I23, and mechanism later to be described which periodically lifts the ladles from the filling posi tions of Fig. 6 to the dumping positions indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10 whereat the ladlesdcliver the metal into the mouths of the molds. Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 12 it will be noted that the upper inner faces of the molds are cut away and diverge upwardly for almost the full width of the matrix surfaces and as indicated at I29 to receive the metal.

In the operation of the machine as thus far described it will be apparent that as the movable molds D come up against the stationary molds C molten metal to a quantity sufiicient to completely fill the matrix surfaces will be delivered by the ladles I28 between the molds and will quickly cool to form the cast plates. The mov-' able molds D are moved forward to this casting position by operation of the rams 31 and 38 under control of the valve 56 which in turn is controlled by the cam 13, and it is possible by proper design of this cam to allow the molds to dwell in closed positions long enough to'permit the necessary cooling action. When this time is past after each plate is cast the cam 13 will then reverse the position of the valve 56 to move the rams 31 and 33 rearwardly and separate the molds and as this movement is completed the abutments I24 will engage the knock-out pins M1 to thrust the cast plates from the movable molds. The cycle will then be completed by a forward movement of the rams to again bring the molds into casting positions. This operation may be carried out continuously and quite rapidly but in practice it is found that at intervals it is necessary to smoke or otherwise treat the matrix surfaces of the molds to insure the formation of perfect castings and proper stripping thereof. When this is necessary the operator, by actuation of the valve handle 34, may so adjust the valve 33 as to operate the main ram 24 to move the entire carriage 23 rearwardly and bring the movable molds D into positions widely spaced from the stationary molds as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Thus, while the normal casting operation is carried out by comparatively short strokes of the rams 31 and 38 to save time, I am able whenever necessary to increase the spacing between the molds to several times the normal spacing and thus allow convenient access to their faces for inspection and smoking or other treatment.

Whenever the wide opening of the molds is necessary for the reasons just given the operator will halt the operation of the rams 31 and 38 and to obtain the maximum opening the rams will be left in their rearmost positions as will be readily apparent. To bring this about, it is" necessary to override the automatic cam controlled and timed actuation of the valve 56 and for this purpose the latch 91 is disengaged from the segment 32 by actuation of the thumb-piece IGI so that the valve may be controlled by the handle 94, all as previously described. However, it will be understood that if the rams were stopped at the very end of their rearmost stroke the knock-out pins II1 would be engaged by the abutments I24 and would be held in positions projecting forwardly from the matrix surfaces of the molds D. This is undesirable since the exposed ends of the pins might be injured at this time and I accordingly provide a selective stop for the rams by means of which they may be halted short in their rearward travel. This stop comprises a shaft I38 which extends transversely just forward of the fiange and which is journaled in bearing ears -I3I- -thereon. At itscenter, this shaft I30 has a radially extending pin I32 and normally the shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 so that the carriage 23. The shaft is so biased by a torsional coil spring indicated at I34 in Fig. 2.- Either end of the shaft may be provided with:-

a handle I35 by which the shaft may be rotated through an arc of approximately degrees in a counter-clockwise direction against the tension of the spring I34 and until the stop finger I32 engages a stop screw I36 located in flange 5|. As seen in Figs. 6 and 6A, the tail ends of the rams 31 and 38 have rearwardly projecting lugs I31 and located in the path of the rear ends of these lugs the shaft I38 has flats I38 and I39 located at right angles to each other. In the normal position of the shaft I30 the flats I38 are turned forwardly toward the rams and these flats are so located that the lugs I31 will just clear them as the rams 31 and 38 move rearwardly to their extreme rearward positions. However, when the shaft I33 is turned by the handle I35 to bring the flats I39 to forward positions they will contact the lugs I31 before the rams reach such positions due to the fact that these flats are located forward of the axis of the shaft. In operation then, the operator will first allow the rams to come back far enough to eject the last plates cast before the inspection or treating operation and will then, by actuation of the valve handle 94, move the rams forwardly and lift the handle I35 so that on the next rearward or return motion of the rams, they will be stopped short a slight distance necessary to keep the abutments I23 from actuating the knockout pins H1. 7

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 7 through 10, the operation of the ladles I28 will be described in detail. Since the actuating mechanisms for each ladle are substantially identical only one will be described and similar reference numerals will indicate corresponding parts for the other.

Mounted on the end casting I55 is a bracket I40 having transversely spaced ears I4I wherein is fastened a shaft I42. From the innermost ear I4I there projects upwardly a fixed lug I43 and an adjustable stop screw I44 is mounted therein. Oscillatably mounted on the shaft I42 bya long sleeve bearing I45 is the upper part of a parallel-motion linkage indicated generally at I46 and which acts as a carrier and includes inner and outer arms I41 and I48 having bearings I49 and I5!) aligned axes parallel with the bearing I45. A shaft I51 is journaled through and between the bearings I49 and I50 and at its inner end this shaft has a fitting I52 in which the cranked supporting arm I53 of the ladle. I281 is clamped. The ladle thus travels with the shaft I5I.

Spaced ears I54 and I55 are carried by a short sleeve I56 which is rockably mounted on the shaft I5I adjacent the outer bearing ear I50 and pivotally attached at I51 between these ears, eccentric to shaft I5I, is the upper end of an actuating rod I58. The lower end of the actuating rod I58 (Fig. 1) is pivoted at I59 toone arm. I60 of a bell crank lever I6! which is fixed on a rock shaft I32 journaled transverse.- ly through the frame sides 23. The opposite end of the shaft I52 carries a corresponding crank lever for simultaneously actuating the ladle. mechanism on the opposite side of the machine.- The remaining arm I63 of the bell crank lever.. I6! has pivotally attached thereto at I54 the-- forward end of a connecting rod I65 and the rear end thereof is pivoted at I66 to a crank M lever I51. This lever I61 has a shaft I68 journaled in the housing 65 and interiorly' thereof (Fig. 4) the shaft carries an arm I59 on the end of which is a roller I10 adapted to ride the periphery of the cam 14. A spring III (Fig. 2) is connected between the end of "the lever I51 and the frame side 29 at I12 and holds the roller I19 in engagement with the cam 14, as will be apparent.

Supported on the upper, forward part of the housing side 20, below and forwardly of the bracket I 43, is an outwardly projecting stub shaft I13 and oscillatably mounted thereon is the lower arm of the aforesaid parallel-motion linkage, designated at I14. This arm I14 is forked at its upper end I15 (Fig. 7) and pivoted in the fork at I16 is the lower end of a parallelmotion link Ill. The pivot axis I15 is spaced from the axis of shaft I13 the same distance as the spacing between the axes of the shaft I42 and II. A projecting ear I18 on the arm I14 serves as the anchor point for the lower end of a retractile coil spring I19 and the upper end of this spring is connected to a short link bar I89 which is pivotally attached at IBI to the inner ear I55. The spring thus exerts a downward pull on the ears I54 and I55 forward of the axis of the shaft I5I so that the ears and attached sleeve I56 tend to turn clockwise on the shaft at all times. This movement is normally limited by the engagement of a stop surface I82 on the outer ear I54 with an abutment I83 on the arm I48, as seen in Figs. 9A and 93 particularly.

The upper end of the link I11 has integrally formed therewith a bearing sleeve I84 which journals on the shaft I5I inwardly of the sleeve I 56 forming the pivot connections completing the parallel-motion linkage on the axes of the elements MI and I5I, and I13 and I16. Also positioned on the shaft I5I and keyedthereto at I85 (Fig. 8) are a pair of spaced sleeves I85 and I81 between which fits the sleeve I84.' These sleeves I86 and I81 are connected by and support a stop bar I88 and the sleeve I84 has a tapped projecting lug I39 in which is threaded a screw I90 adapted to bear on this stop bar (Fig. 9). The screw I99 has a knurled knob I9I by which itmay be adjusted by hand and has a conventional spring looking or detent mechanism' I92. The stop bar I88 also lies in the path of an abutment or stop surface I93 on the ear I55 (Figs. 9B and 90). A retractile coil spring I95 is stretched 'between a lug projection I96 on the sleeve I86 (opposite the stop bar I88) and a connection I91 on the lower end of thelink I11.

In what may be called a normal or starting position for the ladle operating mechanism the parts assume the positions shown in Figs 1 and 9A, and in such position the ladles I28 are-lowered into the melting pot B below the level of the molten metal therein as seen in Fig. 6. The rotation of the cam 14 will-now periodically actuate the roller I18 to swing the lever I61 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 thus exerting apull upon the connecting rod I65 such as to turn the bell crank lever I5I and attached rock'shaft I 62 in a counterclockwise direction. The actuating link I58 will thus be thrust upwardly and from the starting position of the parallel-motion linkage this upward movement of the link will be transmitted through the ears I54 and I55 to the shaft I5I to swing the upper arm part I45 of the linkage in a counter-clockwise direction as 'w'ill'be understood. This movement will continueun'til the abutment I93 on the ear I55 contacts the stop bar I88as seen in Fig. 9B atwhich point the shaft'I5I' will have been moved upwardlyto the uppermost limit of its travel. This movement I5I will, of course, swing the ladles I28 upwardly and rearwardly out of the melting pot B to a position over the stationary molds C at which point this travel movement of the ladles will cease. During such movement, however, the ladles have lifted'a quantity of molten metal from the melting pot 'andit will" be understood that since this movement of the ladles is controlled'by the parallel-motion linkage, it will be accomplished without any tilting action of the ladles suchas would cause them to spill anyof their contents. e

The upward travel of the actuating link I58 continues past the point seen in Fig. 9B and in so doing now swings the ears I54 and I55 about the axis of the shaft I51 to theposition shown in Fig. 9C. This motion of the ears I55 and I55 is, however, transmitted to the shaft I5I through the engagement of the abutment I93 with the stop bar I88 so that the shaft itself is turned through a part of a turn in a counter-clockwise direction'after it has reached the aforesaid upper limit of its swinging motion. This rotary motion of the shaft I5I, through its cranked connection I38 with the fitting I52, then serves to tip the ladle I28 to its dotted line delivery position as shown in Fig. 10 so that the contents of the ladle will be delivered between the molds.

Upon the return downward movement of the actuating link 158 the ears I54 and I55 will first turn back in a clockwise direction until the stop bar I88 reaches its normal position against the stop screw I under the influence of the spring I95. This will return the ladle I28 to its normal position, seen in full lines in'Fig. 10, and a con tinuatio'n of the downward movement'of the link will'then pull the shaft I5I and associated parallel-motion'linkage'back to starting position due to the co'ntacto f the stop surface I82'with the abutment I83. This completes the cycle of operation and returns the ladle to the melting pot to gather'a new load of molten metal.

' The spring I19 serves to normally bias the ears I54 and I55 in a clockwise direction and so maintain the stop surface I 82 in contact with the abutment I83 as willbe readily understood. The tipping motion, therefore, is carried out against the resistanceof the spring I19 in the translation of the parts from the positions Fig. 9B and Fig. 9C, and the purposeof the link bar IE0 is to allow this further or tipping motion of the ears and attached elements while keeping the lin of tension of the spring forwardly of the axis of the shaft I5I so that the ears will be restored to their normal positions and theladles returned to their normal operating angle. The function of the spring I95 is to bias the stop bar I 88 also in a clockwise direction and cause it to follow the motionbackto its normal position of Fig. 9 after the ladles have been tipped. It will be apparent that the angle of the ladle I28 may be adjusted by slightlyturning the shaft I5I with respect to the parallel-motion li'nkageand it is for the purpose of making this adjustment that the screw ISO-is provided. Obviously, as viewed in Fig. 10 if this screwis backed oh, the stop har' I88 may be turned slightly i'n'aclockwise direction to change the ladle angle and vice verse; The aforesaid uppermost limit of travel of the shaft I5I with the parallel motion linkage is set and limited by the stop screw I44 which engages an abutment I99 on the arm Ml as seen in Fig. 9.

Each ladle I28 has a wide cupped bottom portion 299, the ends of which are closed by the crank connection I53 and by a flange 29! so that as the ladle is lifted from the pot a quantity of molten metal will be carried upwardly in this cupped bottom. It will be noted that the forward edge 292 of the ladle stands considerably below the rear edge 293 over which the material will spill as it is poured into the mold and thus that it is important that the angle of the ladle does not change as it is lifted from the melting pot. Otherwise, material would spill from this lowermost edge and it is, of course, for this reason that I employ the parallel-motion linkage for controlling the travel of the ladle. Obviously, too, the angle at which the ladle is adjusted by the screw 499 will vary the level of the edge 292 with respect to the edge 293 and so quite precisely control the amount of molten metal which the ladle will hold. The angular surfaces E29 of the stationary mold D terminates in an acute edge 29 which in turn meets a forwardly and downwardly sloping surface 225 overhanging the rear edge of the melting pot B as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 10. The adjustment of the stop screw M4 is made so that the travel of the parallelmotion linkage will lift the ladle toa dumping position at which its edge 293 will just tip over the parting edge 294 of the mold to deliver the molten metal onto the surface I29 which will, of course, guide it between the molds. Any material which may spill upon the edge 294 will be directed by the overhanging surface 295 back to the melting pot as will be readily evident. However, since the axes of the shaft I51 in the dumping position of the parts stands almost actually aligned with the edge 293 as indicated at the junction of the lines 298 and 29'! in Fig. 10 the tipping or dumping action will cause the ladle edges 293 to turn over just rearwardly of the mold edge 294 so that there is little likelihood of V spillage.

The movable molds D carry shields 298 which open forwardly and prevent any possibility of molten metal spilling rearwardly over the rams or other parts.

As the finished cast plates drop from the movable molds as previously described they are carried away by a conveyor mechanism which will now be described. As seen in Fig. 3A the plates P as they come from the molds have laterally projecting lugs L at the upper corner portions by which the plates may be carried and conveyed and as the plates leave the molds they drop edgewise onto rearwardly and downwardly curving chutes 299 which are pivotally supported at up-' per ends at 2l9 between the frame sides 29 and near lower ends are adjustably mounted on the frame by cross rods 2 playing in slots 2|2 and having fastening nuts 213. The plates P further taper toward their lower edges as shown in Fig. 3A and it is these comparatively narrow lower edges which drop onto the chutes 299 and slide downwardly thereon. The chutes have side flanges or rails 2M which the lower sides of the lugs L will engage and thus the plates, as they slide down the chutes with contact along this lower margin of the plate and at the lugs, will be straightened and restrained against any tendency to twist. The plates then drop onto the upper rearwardly moving flight of conveyor belts 2I5 at right angles thereto. These belts 2l5 are mounted upon rollers 2l6 and 2H carried by a conveyor frame 218 and the forward, lower end of this frame is notched at 219 to seat over a cross rod 229 extending between the frame sides so that the entire conveyor system may be readily withdrawn from the casting machine. The rear or delivery end of the conveyor frame is supported on a floor stand 22! whereon is a motor 222 connected by a sprocket chain 223 to a countershaft 224 journaled in the stand. Sprocket chains 225 then connect the countershaft 224 to the shaft of the roller 2% to drive the belt H5. The frame 2; also supports an apron plate 226 underneath the top flight of the belt.

The flanges 2 it terminate some distance above the belt 245 and running immediately under the flanges are the upper spans of conveyor chains 221 operating at forward ends over sprockets 228 on the shafts of the forward belt rollers 2". At their delivery ends the chains 22! operate over drive sprockets 229 on the stand 22i and under tightener sprockets 239 and the shaft 23| carrying sprockets 221 is driven from thecountershaft 224 through a sprocket chain 232. It will be noted that the inclination rearwardly of the belt 215 is less than that of the chains 22'5 so that the distance between the upper spans of these elements gradually increases. Furthermore the belt is much shorter than the conveyor chains as clearly shown.

In action as the plates P slide down the chutes 299 (see dotted line showing in Fig. 6) they will be engaged at lower edges by the belts H5 and carried rearwardly until the lugs L slide off the flanges 2M and drop onto the conveyor chains 22?. The plates will then be carried on rearwardly, gradually straightening up until the plates drop from the rear ends of the belts, leaving the plates suspended by their lugs between the conveyor chains. The plates will then be carried on up out of the machine and will accumulate against a stop 233 atop the stand 23| for periodic removal from the conveyor. The chains 22? run at a slightly higher surface speed than the belts 2E5 to tend to straighten the plates, as will be understood.

The variable speed pulley 63 allows precise adjustments of the operating speed of the machine, while the adjustable connections 16 and 11 between the cams l3 and M allows the ram operation and ladle operation to be relatively timed and adjusted for proper synchronization. The magnetic brake 94 serves to stop the machine operation promptly when the motor 59 is switched off for any reason and allows the rams to be halted in any desired positions.

It is desirable when the machine is shut down to lift the ladles iZB from the melting pot so that they will not freeze into the metal as it' cools, and also to be able to lift the ladles to an inoperative position while the rest of the machine runs, in making mold adjustments, etc. For this purpose I provide a cam 234 (Fig. 1) which is mounted on a shaft 235 on the side of the frame and operated by a handle 236. This cam may engage a roller 23'! on the bell-crank lever arm I69 and has a curvature such that by turning the handle the cam will lift the arm H69 and elevate the ladles to about the position shown in Fig. 10. In such position the ladles will continue to tilt and so will dump their contents, and then remain clear of the melting pot until the handle 299 is again turned to restore the parts to' Working positions.

The mold filling mechanism, herein disclosed,v is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending app1i-- 13 cation Serial No. 58,461, filed November 5, 1948.

It will be noted that the various controls, such as the valves 335S, motor and drive units and handle 235 may be readily positioned upon either side of the machine. Thus, it is possible to arrange the machines in pairs, side by side, with the controls on facing sides of the aisle between machines so that a single operator may readily attend two machines.

I provide openings 2% in the plate lugs to facilitate further operations on the plates (as for example trimming as in the Automatic Plate Trimming Machine of my co-pending application, Serial No. 703,799 filed October 17, 1946) and to form these openings the movable molds D carry pins 239 urged forwardly by springs 24!] as seen in Fig. 16 and adapted to engage round bosses 2 on the stationary molds. These and other important details of the molds per se are disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 758,825, filed July 3, 1947, now matured into Patent No. 2,508,865.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a grid plate casting machine having a frame, a reciprocating carriage mounted on the frame and a reciprocating mold carrier mounted on the carriage for reciprocation relative to said carriage, a stationary mold fixed to the frame, a movable mold fixed to the mold carrier and movable upon reciprocation of both the carriage and the mold carrier toward and away from the stationary mold, a first fluid motor mounted on the carriage and connected to the mold carrier for reciprocating the carrier relative to the carriage and moving the movable mold toward and away from the stationary mold, and a second fluid motor mounted on the frame and connected to the carriage for reciprocating the latter relative to the frame and also moving the movable mold toward and away from the stationary mold.

2. In a grid plate casting machine having a frame, a reciprocating carriage mounted on the frame and a reciprocating mold carrier mounted on the carriage for reciprocation relative to the carriage, a stationary mold fixed to the frame, a movable mold fixed to the mold carrier and movable upon reciprocation of both the carriage and the mold carrier toward and away from the stationary mold, a short stroke fluid motor mounted on the carriage and connected to the mold carrier to move the carrier and the movable mold relative to the carriage through normal working strokes toward and away from the stationary mold, and a long stroke fluid motor mounted on the frame and connected to the carriage to reciprocate the latter along With the mold carrier and movable mold relative to the frame through a longer stroke away from the stationary mold.

3. In a grid plate casting machine of the character described, a frame, a stationary casting mold on the frame, slides on the frame, a carriage mounted in said slides for reciprocatory movements toward and away from said stationary mold, slide rails on the carriage, a mold carrier slidably mounted on said rails for reciprocatory movements with respect to the carriage and toward and away from the stationary mold, a movable mold fixed to the mold carrier, a support on the carriage, a fluid motor mounted on the support and connected to the mold carrier and operative to move the carrier and movable mold toward and away from the stationary mold, a mounting member depending from the carriage, a mounting member on the frame, and a second fluid motor having a cylinder connected to one of said mounting members and a plunger connected to the other mounting member for moving the carriage and the mold carrier and movable mold relative to the frame and the stationary mold.

4. In a grid plate casting machine of the character described, a frame, a source of fluid under pressure, a stationary casting mold fixed to the frame, a cooperating movable casting mold, a carriage mounted on the frame, means on the frame slidably supporting the carriage for reciprocatory movements relative to the stationary mold, a mold carrier, means for fixing the movable mold to said mold carrier, means on the carriage slidably supporting the mold carrier and movable mold for reciprocatory movements relative to the carriage and stationary mold to thereby alternately open and close the casting molds, a first fluid motor having a cylinder and extensible plunger, means connecting this fluid motor to the carriage and to the mold carrier for reciprocating the latter relative to the carriage, a second fluid motor having a cylinder and an extensible plunger, means connecting the second fluid motor to the frame and to the carriage for reciprocating the carriage and mold carrier and movable mold as one unit relative to the frame, a manually operative valve connecting the said fluid source to the second fluid motor, a power operated rotary cam, an arm pivoted on the frame and having means engaging the cam whereby rotation of the cam will oscillate the arm, a link rod connected to the arm, a valve connecting the fluid source to the first fluid m0- tor and having a movable part operative to alternately admit fluid to opposite ends of the cylinder of said first fluid motor, and means connecting the link rod to move the said movable part of the valve.

5. In a grid plate casting machine having a frame supporting a motor and a reciprocating mold carrier, a fluid motor mounted on the frame and connected to the carrier to reciprocate the carrier, a valve connected to said fluid motor and having a moving part adapted to control the flow of fluid to said motor, a handle oscillatably mounted on said frame and connected to the moving part of the valve, said handle being adapted to operate the valve by hand, a segment member oscillatably supported by said frame and connected to and oscillated by said first mentioned motor, said segment member having a notch, and a latch carried by the handle for releasably engaging said notch, whereby the handle and the segment may be connected for oscillation as a unit.

6. In a grid plate casting machine of the character described, a frame, a stationary casting mold on the frame, a cooperating movable casting mold, a carriage, means on the frame slidably supporting the carriage for reciprocatory movements relative to the stationary mold, a mold carrier, means mounting the movable mold on said mold carrier, means on the carriage slidably supporting the mold carrier and movable mold for reciprocatory movements relative to the stationary mold to thereby alternately open and close the casting molds, a first fluid motor having a cylinder and extensible plunger, means connecting this fluid motor to the carriage and to the mold carrier for reciprocating the latter, a second fluid motor having a cylinder and an extensible plunger, means connecting the second fluid motor to the frame and to the carriage for reciprocating the carriage and mold carrier and movable mold as one unit, a shaft, means journaling the shaft on the carriage, and a stop carried by the shaft and movable upon adjustment of the shaft into the path of the mold carrier as it is moved away from the stationary mold by the first fluid motor to thereby halt such movement of the carrier short of the point to which it would otherwise be moved.

ARTHUR D. LUND.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hopkins Oct. 24, 1922 Willard Oct. 23, 1923 Lund Feb. 2, 1932 Carleton et a1 June 27, 1933 During Oct. 24, 1933 Pack June 5, 1934 Goodrich et al Jan. 1, 1935 Kux Mar. 19, 1935 Haessler July 27, 1937 Poole et a1 Apr. 5, 1938 Johnson Oct. 4, 1938 Willard Jan. '7, 1941 Feldtkeller Jan. 27, 1948 

